External Support Services in Bochum and the Surrounding Area

Acute Psychiatric Admission in Bochum

• Psychiatric Emergency Clinic at the LWL University Hospital in Bochum: A 24/7 resource for acute psychiatric emergencies and mental health crises.

Suicidal Tendencies

• Bochum Social-Psychiatric Service: Counseling and support from the Public Health Department for severe mental health crises and emotional distress.
• Telephone Counseling: Free, anonymous, and confidential counseling for worries and crises, available around the clock.
• PRISMA Pastoral Care and Counseling Center: Pastoral and psychosocial counseling for students facing personal crises and existential questions.
• MANO – Suicide Prevention: Specialized center for suicide prevention offering counseling for those at risk and their families.
• DGS German Society for Suicide Prevention: Information network and directory of support services for acute suicide risk.

Additional Resources in Times of Crisis

• Nightline Bochum: Anonymous listening hotline run by students for students during late evening and nighttime hours.
• FBZ – Research and Treatment Center for Mental Health: University psychotherapy outpatient clinic at RUB for the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
• Emergency Medical Service (Phone: 0234 192 92): Medical point of contact for acute health problems outside regular office hours.
• Dortmund Crisis Center: Regional resource for immediate assistance, relief, and short-term therapy during acute mental health crises.

Services for Students at Church-Affiliated Institutions

• Catholic University Community: Psychosocial and pastoral counseling for personal crises, relationship problems, and life questions.
• Campussegen: An open pastoral care service offered by the university churches for personal conversations, quiet reflection, and guidance.
• Caritas Bochum: A wide range of counseling services for social, financial, family, and psychological difficulties.

Assistance for Those Facing (Imminent) Homelessness

• Bochum Department of Social Services: Municipal contact point for social assistance, basic income support, and emergency assistance.
• Project Shelter (“Finally a Home”): Counseling and support for those at risk of losing their housing, and assistance in finding housing.
• AWO Ruhr-Mitte – Help for the Homeless: Unbureaucratic support, day centers, and counseling for homeless and housing-insecure individuals.
• Wohindo Dortmund (multilingual): Multilingual counseling and orientation services for refugees and immigrants seeking housing.
• Uhlandstraße: Women’s Counseling, Women’s Shelter: A safe space, temporary lodging, and specialized counseling for women at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
• bodo e.V. – Assistance for homeless people: A social project offering reintegration services and emergency assistance for homeless people.
• Emergency Shelter “SchlafamZug” (Castroper Straße 1a; 44791 Bochum; Tel.: 904 1982): Safe emergency shelter for overnight stays in acute homelessness situations.
• "Fliednerhaus" Overnight Shelter: Safe emergency shelter for overnight stays in acute homelessness situations.

Community-Based Services

• "Sprungbrett" – Contact and Counseling Center (ages 14–25): A low-threshold resource for young adults facing difficult life situations.

Food Distributions

• Free cafeteria meals for students in need: Support during financial hardship by providing meals in the cafeteria.
• Bochumer Suppenküche e.V.: Distribution of hot meals and a gathering place for people in need.
• Tafel Bochum und Wattenscheid e.V.: Distribution of donated food to people with low incomes.

Outreach medical care for homeless people

• Medical Aid Bochum: Outreach-based and non-bureaucratic basic medical care for homeless people

Marriage, Family, and Life Counseling

• Campus Blessing: An open pastoral care service offered by the university chapels for personal conversations, quiet reflection, and guidance.
• Life Counseling at Diakonie Ruhr: Specialized counseling for personal emergencies, relationship crises, and emotional problems.
• Caritas Bochum: Psychosocial counseling and support during difficult life stages.

Online Therapy Services

• Directory of Digital Health Applications (DiGA): Overview of medically validated health apps and online therapies available by prescription.

Online Prevention Programs: Evidence-based e-mental health programs for self-managed coping with depression, stress, and anxiety.

• Moodgym
• FightDepression
• Headache Hurts
• Get.On Health Training Online
• HelloBetter

Online support group for students experiencing mental health challenges and crises: Regular digital discussions among students dealing with mental health issues

Contact: studis@bpe-online.de; every second Thursday via Zoom

Basic Psychotherapy Care in Witten/Herdecke: Initial psychotherapeutic consultation and diagnosis at the university outpatient clinic.

Department of Neurology/Psychiatry

• NPFZ Bochum: Specialist care for complex neurological and psychiatric conditions.
• Specialist Search (Multilingual): Search portals to connect patients with specialists who have specific language skills.

Occupational Psychosomatics LVR-Essen: Specialized outpatient clinic for mental stress and exhaustion related to work and studies.

Email: ambulanz-pm.essen@lvr.de; Phone: 0201 438 755 101

Anxiety Disorders

• Psychotherapy Outpatient Clinic at the University of Bochum: A specialized outpatient clinic at the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) for the scientifically based diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.
• Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Bochum: Inpatient and day-treatment care for anxiety disorders and psychosomatic conditions.

Depression

• German Depression Aid & Suicide Prevention Foundation: Nationwide education, information, and support platform on the topic of depression.
• Bochum Alliance Against Depression, Inc.: Regional network supporting those affected by depression and their families in Bochum.
• German Depression Aid: A resource center with a patient hotline and informational materials on coping with depression.

Eating Disorders

• Distel e.V.: Counseling and specialized services for eating disorders, as well as support for family members.
• Bonner Zentrum für Essstörungen e.V. (BZE): Specialized counseling and therapy referrals for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating.
• SHALK EATS: Self-help group and services for people with eating disorders.
• Magersucht.de: Online information portal and forum for discussing eating disorders.

Trauma

• DeGPT German-Speaking Society for Psychotraumatology: Scientific professional association with a directory of qualified trauma therapists.
• National Working Group of Psychosocial Centers: Umbrella organization for the care of traumatized refugees and victims of torture.
• Information for adults in acute crisis and their loved ones: Information network to help navigate life after traumatic events.
• List of counseling, therapy, and self-help resources for complex trauma: Specific points of contact for support with complex post-traumatic stress disorders.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

• German Society for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zwangserkrankungen e.V.): Nationwide professional association offering information, self-help groups, and counseling for obsessive-compulsive disorders.
• Clinic for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders: Specialized university clinic for the assessment and treatment of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
• Psychotherapy Outpatient Clinic at the University of Bochum with a Focus on Pain: Outpatient services for the treatment of chronic pain disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Psychosis

• LWL Outpatient Clinic: Outpatient psychiatric care and therapy for psychotic disorders.
• BoFIT Screening (Early Detection Initiative): An initiative for the early detection and timely treatment of emerging psychoses.

Don’t Become an Offender

For people who fear they might commit a violent or sexual crime.

• bevor-was-passiert.de: An anonymous, confidential prevention service aimed at preventing sexual offenses.
• Caritas Bochum: Counseling on violence prevention and de-escalation.
• Don’t Become an Offender: An anonymous, confidential prevention program designed to prevent sexual offenses.
• Wendepunkt: Counseling and offender intervention to prevent domestic and intimate partner violence.

Addiction

Cannabis and/or synthetic drugs

• inEchtzeit: Digital and outpatient counseling services for problematic use of cannabis and party drugs.

Video Game/Online Addiction

• Explanatory Video: An educational video on the definition and treatment of gaming and online addiction.
• Group Programs at an Independent Practice (Bochum): Therapeutic support and education to help overcome gaming and online addiction.
• Directory of support services from the Fachverband Medienabhängigkeit e.V. (Professional Association for Media Addiction): Nationwide directory of specialized counseling centers for media addiction.

Alcohol Problems

Regional addiction counseling centers for alcohol, medication, and substance abuse issues:

• Addiction Support - Team West
• Diakonie
• Caritas Addiction Support Center
• AWO

Illegal Drugs – Crisis Assistance

• Crisis Assistance Bochum: Outpatient addiction counseling, harm reduction, and emergency assistance for illegal drug use.

ADHD

Information portals, counseling, and self-help networks for people with ADHD:

• ADHD – Germany, Inc.
• Central ADHD Network

ADHD – Diagnosis

Specialized clinics and centers for testing and diagnosing ADHD in adults:

• Center for Outpatient Neurology
• NPFZ Bochum
• LVR Clinic Essen
• LWL Clinic Dortmund
• LVR Hospital Düsseldorf

Autism

• Autismus Deutschland e.V.: National association representing the interests of people on the autism spectrum.
• Autism Center Bochum: Regional center specializing in diagnosis, support, therapy, and daily living assistance for people with autism.

Autism Therapy

Additional regional centers specializing in diagnosis, support, therapy, and daily living assistance for autism:

• AUTISMO
• Therapeutikum Witten
• Autism Dortmund

For Women

• Nora e.V. – Bochum Women’s Counseling Center: Professional and confidential counseling for women and girls in all life situations.
• Mira e.V.: An intercultural meeting and counseling center for women of diverse backgrounds.
• Schattenlicht - Women’s Counseling Center in Herne: A regional resource center for women facing crises, violence, and overwhelming stress.
• agisra. e.V.: Information and counseling center for migrant women and refugees facing violence, legal issues, and discrimination.
• Helpline for Violence Against Women (116 016): Anonymous, nationwide, 24/7 telephone counseling available in 17 languages.
• Wildwasser Bochum e.V.: Specialized counseling center for cases of sexual violence against girls and women.
• bff & Umbrella Organization of Autonomous Women’s Counseling Centers in North Rhine-Westphalia: Federal and state associations that refer callers to local women’s hotlines and shelters.
• Frauen-Info-Netz NRW: Quick overview of available spots in women’s shelters in North Rhine-Westphalia.
• Suse Helps / Safe and Inclusive for Girls: Project-specific support to empower women and girls with disabilities.

For Men

• Men’s Counseling Network: Nationwide portal for connecting men with counseling services in crisis and violence situations.
• Helpline for Violence Against Men & man-o-mann Counseling Center: Telephone and in-person specialized counseling for male victims of violence and men facing life crises.

Sexuality

• pro familia Bochum: State-recognized specialized counseling on sexuality, contraception, family planning, and pregnancy.
• Contraceptive Fund (through pro familia): Covers the cost of contraception for students with low incomes or receiving BAföG.
• Walk in Ruhr: Center for sexual health offering confidential counseling and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• #unverschaemt: Center for sexual health offering confidential counseling and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Rosa Strippe: Psychosocial counseling center for LGBTQI+ individuals, couples, and family members.

Far-right, racist, and anti-Semitic violence

• BackUp: Professional counseling and support for victims, family members, and witnesses of far-right, racist, and anti-Semitic violence.
• Victim Counseling Rhineland: Independent assistance, legal advice, and support for victims of racist violence.
• Essen Anti-Racism Hotline: Low-threshold counseling hotline for cases of racist discrimination and attacks.
• Mobile Counseling Against Right-Wing Extremism NRW: Expert counseling for individuals, initiatives, and organizations working to combat right-wing extremism.
• Ofek e.V.: Specialized counseling center for anti-Semitic violence and discrimination.
• ARIC-NRW: Anti-Racism Information Center for documenting discrimination and providing initial legal advice.

Digital Violence

• Hate Aid: Counseling, legal assistance, and support in removing content related to digital hate and cyberbullying.
• Distel e.V.: Counseling for digital harassment and stalking.
• SciComm-Support: Point of contact for attacks, unfair treatment, and hostility in science communication.
• Dickstinction: A platform for easily filing criminal complaints regarding unsolicited genital photos (“dick pics”).

Stalking

• City of Bochum: Resources for protection and counseling regarding stalking.
• Distel e.V.: Specialized counseling services to support victims of stalking.
• Stop-Stalking: Specialized counseling services to support victims of stalking.
• NO STALK app (by Weisser Ring): A smartphone app for legally sound documentation of stalking incidents.

Domestic Violence & Intimate Partner Violence

• Nora e.V.: Women’s counseling center for domestic violence, threats, and relationship crises.
• Distel e.V.: Counseling for domestic violence and relationship crises.
• Neue Wege: Counseling on de-escalation, violence prevention, and resolving conflicts in intimate relationships.
• Evangelisches Beratungszentrum - Männer: Counseling on de-escalation, violence prevention, and resolving conflicts in intimate relationships.
• Anonymous Forensic Examination Bochum: Confidential medical forensic examination following violence in intimate relationships, with no obligation to report the incident.

Criminal Violence

• Weißer Ring: Nationwide aid organization supporting victims of crime, violence, and burglary.